Double carton construction



S. L. EIFRID DOUBLE CARTON CONSTRUCTION Sept. 26, 1961 Filed July 7,1959 United States Patent Oficc Patented. Sept. 26,, 1961 3,001,687 IDOUBLE CARTON CONSTRUCTION Stephen L. Eifrid, 641 61st Place, La Grange,Ill. Filed July 7, 1959, Ser. No. 825,506 2 Claims. (Cl. 229-51) Thisinvention relates generally to containers and, more particularly, to acontainer assembly comprising two containers of sheet material such ascardboard of generally rectangular shape, each with side walls connectedat opposite side edges to adjacent side walls and at intervening endedges to flaps which may be folded over to close the boxes.

The primary object of the invention is to join two containers of theabove character by a plurality of separate connectors which are ofsimple and inexpensive construction, are easy to bring into interlockingrelation with the containers and permit easy disassembly of thecontainers when desired.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a modified assembly with same of the partsbroken away and shown in section.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 10 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the connector of the modified assembly.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the modified assembly with some ofthe parts broken away and shown in section.

The invention is shown in the drawings for purposes of illustrationembodied in a container assembly including two containers 16a joinedtogether by connectors 23a. Each container is formed as a rectangularbox from a flat blank and comprises four rectangular side wall sections17a and 18a each connected at opposite side edges to adjacent side wallsand at intervening end edges 20a to separately foldable end flaps 22a.The blank is scored along the various edges in the usual manner tofacilitate folding of the parts of the blank into the box. Once the sidewalls 17a and 18a are folded along their adjacent side edges to form ahollow rectangle, the outer edges of the end side wall sections aresecured together as by an adhesive tape (not shown), the flaps 22a beingfolded inwardly over the open ends of the hollow rectangle and onto oneanother to close these ends. The material for the boxes in this instanceis a relatively stiff sheet material such as corrugated cardboard.

In the use of boxes of the above character, it is frequently desiredthat they be secured together for shipping and display after beingfilled but that they be readily separable from each other to permit thecontents of first one and then the other to be removed individually.When secured together, one side wall 17a of one box 16a is disposedadjacent and parallel to one side wall 17a of the other box, the twowalls preferably lying against each other. I

To achieve the desired connection of the boxes 16 in a simple andinexpensive manner, the present invention contemplates a novelconstruction of the connectors 23a and the boxes for cooperation inretaining the boxes in assembled relation while facilitating theirseparation. The connectors thus are formed as elongated parts havingenlarged end portions 24a (FIG. 4) fitting into and interlocking withthe respective boxes. A cross piece 250 connects the end portions andextends between the boxes on their exterior where they are readilyavailable to be severed by a knife or other cutting tool. Opposedsurfaces on the respective end portions define a slot 27a p ng inwardlyfrom ne longitudi al edge of eac cone or a d rec iving co e po dingopposi ely fa ing parts of the boxes so as to prevent movement of suchparts and the boxes away from each other, the slot dividing theconnector into the portions adjacent the crosspiece.

The connector 23a preferably is formed of the same material as the boxes16a. In this instance, each connector is of flat rectangular shape andthe slot 27a extends inwardly from the center of one longitudinal edgeapproximately half way across the connector where it terminates at thecrosspiece 25a. The slot 27a and also the end portions 24a arerectangular. The slot is wide enough to receive two thicknesses of thebox material such as the adjacent side walls 17a lying flat against eachother when the boxes are in their assembled relation. Edge portions ofthese side walls along the side edges thus extend into the slot to lockthe connector against endwise movement relative to the walls and to lockthe walls against movement away from each other. It will be apparentthat the slot also could receive the two side walls adjacent theintervening end edges 20a where the walls are connected to the flaps21a.

In assembling two boxes 16a and four connectors 23a, let it be assumedthat the blanks for the boxes have been folded and the outer side edgesof the end wall sections 18a have been secured together to form hollowrectangular tubes with open ends. Then, the side walls 17a are placedside by side and the end portions 24a of the connectors are moved withinthe boxes with a slot 27a receiving the contacting box side walls 17awith the adjacent portions 24a of theends lying against the side walls1=8a adjacent the contacting walls (FIG. 4). The crosspiece 25a and theparts connected thereby are bent laterally along a longitudinal centerline 29 of the connector, however, after the end flaps 21a connected tothe contacting end walls 17a have been folded inwardly as shown inFIG. 1. Then, the other end flaps 22a are folded inwardly to hold theconnectors in place where they remain to join the boxes until thecrosspieces are severed or the flaps are raised and the connectors areremoved. If desired, the flaps may be held down in their foldedpositions by suitable adhesive tape (not shown).

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the connectors 23a are ofsimple and inexpensive construction and enable boxes to be held securelytogether \m'thout any change in the construction of the boxes 16a.

If desired, a cut score line may extend across the con nectorcrosspieces 25a to facilitate severance of the crosspieces and thusseparation of the boxes.

I claim:

1. A container assembly comprising a first box having side walls joinedalong opposite edges and throughout the length of such edges to adjacentside walls and along intervening edges to end flaps, a second similarbox having a first one of its side Walls disposed parallel to andclosely adjacent a first one of the side walls of said first box, andfour fiat connectors each having a slot extending inwardly from onelongitudinal edge and receiving said first walls adjacent a differentend of said opposite edges, the other longitudinal edge portion of eachconnector being folded over onto said intervening edges after theadjacent ones of said flaps have been folded away from each other toclose at least partially the openings in the boxes defined by said sidewalls.

2. A container assembly comprising a first box having side walls joinedalong opposite edges to adjacent side walls and along intervening edgesto end flaps, a second similar box having a first one of its side wallsdisposed parallel to and closely adjacent a first one of the side wallsof said first box, and a plurality of generally flat connectors eachhaving a 'slot extending inwardly from one longitudinal edge andreceiving said first walls adjacent a difierent end of said oppositeedges, the other longitudinal edge portion of each connector beingfolded over onto said intervening edges after the adjacent ones of saidflaps have been folded away from each other References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,737,334 Hal gren Mar; 6, 1956

